The First Cup: A battle of Rangers in Rochester kicks off Round 2 (Nov. 30, 1913)

TheCup.us introduces “The First Cup” series, which revisits the first running of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (then known as the National Challenge Cup) that took place from the fall of 1913 to the spring of 1914.Click here for the full series.
Note: As you read this, you’ll notice a lot of players with just one name. This is not an oversight on our part, but rather, many of the sources of this information (newspapers, publications etc.) only use the last name of players in their stories.

On the strength of a goal from Stille, Rochester’s MacNaughton Rangers advanced to the third round of the National Challenge Cup by defeating the Niagara Falls Rangers 1-0 at Hudson Avenue Field. It was the opinion of many, including supporters of the Rochester team, that the better club was on the losing end.

From the very start Niagara Falls began to press and after five minutes, Harper nearly brought MacNaughton goalkeeper King to his knees with a hard waist high shot that seemed destined for the back of the net. With Niagara Falls fullbacks Clarkson and Holye sending sending balls into the MacNaughton penalty area, and the shots from the visitors either scraped over the crossbar or just missed the posts.

A long drive from Hoyle landed squarely in the goal mouth, but as Milnes and Forrest rushed in the ball somehow it failed to cross the goal line.

For most of the opening half Niagara Falls goalkeeper Highlett was left with little to do, needing only to save a solitary shot from distance.

However, with five minutes to go until the break it was the MacNaughtons who took the lead against the run of play. Stille took the ball from midfield and made his way around Hoyle, and had Clarkson closing in on him. Stille fired off a shot that sailed about six inches inside the post. Highlett got a hand on the ball, but not enough to push it out of danger.

Niagara Falls Rangers in 1913/14 season

After the goal Niagara Falls returned to the attack, and soon after was awarded a penalty kick after the Macs’ Bliss was called for a hand ball in the penalty area. As the visiting supporters clamored excitedly in anticipation for the equalizing goal, King disappointed them by making a diving save of the spot kick.

The second half began on a decidedly rougher tone as both teams committed numerous fouls that were left unpunished by referee Ackroyd. Play soon degenerated into stopping whoever had the ball instead of gaining possession of the ball itself. While referee Ackroyd began to call fouls, he failed to send any of the players off the field for their rough behavior.

Midway through the second half the MacNaughtons had a chance to double their lead when Hoyle brought down Stille in the penalty area. Highlett was not required to save the kick as Playfair sent the ball sailing over the crossbar.

Near the end, Forrest of Niagara Falls, who had been playing a stellar game, received a pass from Kemp and just before he was about to shoot, he was brought down in the penalty area. Despite the pleas from the Niagara Falls players, Ackroyd did not call for a penalty and allowed play to continue.

Just before the final whistle MacNaughton made a final charge on the Niagara Falls goal, forcing Highlett to make several difficult saves, twice finding himself in the goal itself after making saves. Clarkson nearly saved the day for Niagara Falls with a free kick sent into the goalmouth, but Murdoch headed the ball safely away to preserve the victory for the Flower City eleven. (Note: In the early 19th century Rochester gained the nickname “The Flower City” when the city became home to an expanding nursery business)

Hudson United FC 0:0 St. George FC

Downstate in New York City, Hudson United and St. George FC squared off in front of a large crowd at Manhattan Field. Both clubs hailed from the Metropolitan & District Amateur League in New York had plenty of fans from both sides cheering them on, but none of those fans could urge their team to score. The teams played to a scoreless draw with the replay scheduled for a week later.

The New York Tribune described the contest as “replete with spectacular plays and the work of both goalkeepers was worthy of mention. They stopped the high and low ones, the fast and slow ones alike and were applauded innumerable times.”